Starting Project Segapedia, need help.

[leathco]

Thanks for all the information. I'm gonna try everything you said plus some trial by error stuff and see what I can make. Expect a very very early alpha build in a few weeks if I do OK learning all of this.

Also working on making an IP.bins (I think that's it) file that has a nice lil segapedia logo on it when the dreamcast boots the disc. Seems to be rather easy to make one of those, so I figure thats a good starting point for me to start learning all of this stuff.

[leathco]

quzar if it would help I can send you the files I have so far, lots of pictures (not all converted to PNG yet however) and the Wikipedia article rips, not edited at all as of yet however.

Right now I am searching for some Sega commercials and possibly promotional videos to put on it, as well as getting some gameplay videos from all of the systems.

[leathco]

Having some minor problems creating custom menus. I think I have to manually edit the DXL files, right?

Here's what I have now.

<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<LIST ENTRIES='1' THEME="/cd/Themes/Mainmenu.dxt" MODE="RGB565">
<LINK
TITLE="Apps"
DESCRIPTION="Go to the Dreamcast Music and Movies section."
SCREENSHOT="/cd/Themes/Apps.png"
TARGET="/cd/Themes/Apps.dxl"
PREROLL="/cd/Themes/Loading.dxi"/>
</LIST>

Now, most of that was made just using the SBI inducer with me making just a couple minor edits. However, on this front page, I would like to add the text portion of the encyclopedia so it stands out right in front.

My question is, would a link to the text files plus all the apps text look like this?

<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<LIST ENTRIES='11' THEME="/cd/Themes/Mainmenu.dxt" MODE="RGB565">
<LINK
TITLE="Apps"
DESCRIPTION=""
SCREENSHOT="/cd/Themes/Apps.png"
TARGET="/cd/Themes/Apps.dxl"
PREROLL="/cd/Themes/Loading.dxi"/>
<ITEM
TARGET = "/cd/1. SG-1000.txt">
<ITEM
TARGET = "/cd/2. Master System.txt">
<ITEM
TARGET = "/cd/3. Mega Drive - Genesis.txt">
<ITEM
TARGET = "/cd/4. Game Gear.txt">
<ITEM
TARGET = "/cd/5. SegaCD.txt">
<ITEM
TARGET = "/cd/6. 32X.txt">
<ITEM
TARGET = "/cd/7. Nomad.txt">
<ITEM
TARGET = "/cd/8. Saturn.txt">
<ITEM
TARGET = "/cd/9. Dreamcast.txt">
<ITEM
TARGET = "/cd/10. Sega Corporation.txt">
</LIST>

I'm assuming for now since I'm just starting on the alpha that screenshot can be left blank when pulling up text.

Also, LIST ENTRIES=#, would # equal how many entries I have on the meny including the text files?

Also once again thanks for all the help both you guys have been. I'm definately a new guy at this but definately would like to contribute a little slice to the community. I just got a Dreamcast July this year thanks to a buddy of mine helping me discover the $#@!munity, and since than just trying to pick up all the homebrew and hardware that I can. I got a full collection of VMUs (I'm pretty sure I got every color made) working on every controller made, and I'm thinking about purchasing a "standard" Dreamcast so I have both the regular one and the Sega Sports edition. Also picked up a fishing controller and light gun this week, and a keyboard/mouse a few weeks back. Just need to get a BBA and I'll have a decent collection. Sorry for going off of the beaten trail there, me and my buddies are just really enjoying this scene we've missed out on for the past decade. Hell, I picked up a GP2X not too long ago.

[leathco]

Crap

Tried to compile an image, getting an error saying bin2boot can't run since I'm in a 64-bit environment.

[Christuserloeser]

Tried to compile an image, getting an error saying bin2boot can't run since I'm in a 64-bit environment.

Download this version of SBInducer:
http://sbibuilder.dc-france.com/down...=15&idfile=115

[Christuserloeser]

Having some minor problems creating custom menus. I think I have to manually edit the DXL files, right?

Yup. Open them with Notepad.

Now, most of that was made just using the SBI inducer with me making just a couple minor edits.

That's okay. I was about to recommend to start with examining how the original menu works, to do some minor changes and then some tests every now and then.


But, judging by your post: if you really want to start right away I recommend to examine one of releases over at DCEvolution. (see link below)

However, on this front page, I would like to add the text portion of the encyclopedia so it stands out right in front.

My question is, would a link to text look like this?

Well, you can display text as a DESCRIPTION. What I do though is to just use the SCREENSHOTS display.

If you check the Tetris 2 OC release at DCEvolution ( http://dcevolution.net/cgi-bin/downl...=tetris2oc.zip ) then you'll see that DCDayDreamer used DreamInducer for the info / tutorial screens that way. Here's how it looks:



Download the image, burn it and copy the menu to your PC. Examine how he's set up the menu and start by using his .dxl / dxi / dxt files.

I'm assuming for now since I'm just starting on the alpha that screenshot can be left blank when pulling up text.

Yeah it is possible but hard to layout. You could just use the screenshots to display the text as I explained.

Just fire up GIMP / Photoshop / whatever and start with a white page with the resolution of 640x480 pixels.

Copy + Paste in the text and format it so the letters aren't too big but still readable.

Also, LIST ENTRIES=#, would # equal how many entries I have on the meny including the text files?

Yes but you can't link to text files directly. Menu entries have to be LINKs (.dxl) or ITEMs (.bin).

Use the menu entries' SCREENSHOTs to display the 640x480 screens which hold the text.

The user clicks down for the next screen and A for going back to the main menu.

I'll post an example in a minute.

[Christuserloeser]

Updated my previous post to explain some things.

[beetroot bertie]

I was just reading through this thread and wondered about the whole playing slides with music thing.

Would it be possible to do this with a Flash based solution?

I guess it depends if there's an open source flash player for Dreamcast. Only a thought anyway.